INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightRedImage caption
Red's promo videos show off people's reactions to the 3D display, but it cannot
replicate the effect itself on a normal screen
When Red revealed plans to produce a "holographic" smartphone 15 months ago
it caught the industry by surprise.The brand may not be a household name, but over the past two decades its digital cameras have come to be
revered among filmmakers.They have been used to make top movies including Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2, and
the most recent Mission: Impossible.Founder Jim Jannard was previously behind the Oakley sunglasses brand.So many wondered whether handsets
might prove to be the third sector he would disrupt.On the basis of the first reviews of the Red Hydrogen One, that seems doubtful.The
A $1,600 titanium edition is promised to follow.Image copyrightRedImage caption
The handset can capture video and stills
in both 2D and 3D modes
Testers seemed intrigued - if not overly impressed - by the 3D screen, which simulates a sense of
depth rather than produces pop-out images
But frustratingly it's impossible to capture the effect on a normal camera - meaning neither the reviews nor Red's own ads could show photos
or videos of what it looks like
And while the device can also capture 3D imagery, the effect can only be played back on other Hydrogen Ones, limiting the
appeal.Furthermore, another of the key selling points of the device - the ability to snap additional modules on to transform it into a
higher-end video camera - is not due to be released until late 2019
California-based Red is notorious for missing its deadlines
The Hydrogen One was supposed to be released months ago and features a last-generation processor as a consequence
So cinematographers attracted by the idea of an Android phone doubling as a movie camera might want to wait to see how long that takes to be
achieved.Red aims to ship about 16 million of the smartphones a year
Apple sells more iPhones in a month-and-a-half.Image copyrightRedImage caption
The handset has pogo-pins on its rear to
allow modules to be added in the future to increase the device's functionality
But as Essential and Google's Pixel brand
have discovered, achieving annual sales of just a few million can be a struggle.Below are some of the highlights from the early
reports.Digital TrendsThe Red Hydrogen One is the most interesting phone of the year, but also the most disappointing Jim Jannard said
people will want to buy the phone when they see the screen
This is clearly the first effort of a company that lacks smartphone experience.The VergePhotos of people generally end up looking really
goofy, with the person appearing as a paper cut-out on top of whatever was behind them Videos are still a pain to watch
The effect tends to flicker in and out and have lots of strange artefacts
It can hurt your eyes to watch, and it's a little dizzying any time there's too much motion.Tom's Guide:The Hydrogen One is an ambitious
device that so desperately wants to change your life
And every now and then, when the display strikes your eyes at just the precise angle, you feel fleeting glimmers of the magic
However, Red is working with technology that simply hasn't been perfected yet there's no guarantee that Red's particular brand of 3D will be
satisfying or stress-free for your eyes.GizmodoWhile in normal 2D mode, the Hydrogen One's display is relatively high-res But when you turn
3D on, you can immediately see that the screen's resolution is significantly reduced to the point where you can see individual pixels
On top of that, nothing ever looks that sharp, and there's always a faint rainbow colour cast lurking in the background.CnetIt seems like a
3D camera that doubles as a phone
And that's what truly differentiates it from previous 3D devices
The Hydrogen One isn't just about consuming 3D content
And if that appeals to you, then it's definitely worth checking out But for nearly everyone else, it's hard for me to recommend.PC MagI see
It's the vision of a go-anywhere, pro-quality connected movie camera that effortlessly captures massive files and uploads them easily,
probably using 5G [But future] content is going to need to be stable, bright, and in an 8K industry-standard format, not in some proprietary
3D format.BGRThe Hydrogen One is a fairly run-of-the-mill camera phone, capable of capturing solid photos with good lighting, but struggling
in less-than-ideal settings
It's not surprising that Red's first-ever phone can't compete with the likes of Apple or Google when it comes to capturing stunning images,
but considering the pedigree and the price of the phone, it's hard to give Red any slack in this department.Image copyrightRedImage caption
Patent filings hint at how the phone could be used to form part of a more advanced modular camera
Android
CentralI'm yearning for Red to reveal more details on the phone's modular attachments
There's still so much left to be done with this phone, so much bottled up potential
does, indeed, flop, it will have done so with the sort of audacity rarely seen in a space full of me-too devices
If you're going to fail, fail big
At least that way you won't be forgotten.
